Thursday, December 29, 2005

The modern era has seen a marked change in the way people think. Today the world looks at a person, based on his success. More value is given to his success rather than to his qualities. Is this really a right thing? I would like your comments and opinions. I am not saying this based on few incidents but i have been seeing so many incidents in my life, where if a person is successful, he gets all the praise and following, even if he is not honest and doesn't have moral values.Hope you are aware of Professor Hwang Woo Suk, if not, a brief intro, he was widely acclaimed for his stem cell research and first cloning of human embryo and the dog. His papers have been published in medical journals. His invention was acknowledged by TimeMagazine.His paper was published by Science. This professor was associated with Seoul National University, by his paper the medical fraternity was delighted about finding solutions for treating patients suffering from cell based diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and spinal cord injury, to name a few, using CLONING HUMAN embryos. But now it has been found that his results have been deliberately manipulated, in other words, a fabrication of research results. So all the hopes of finding medicines for the above mentioned disease has now received a major jolt.Lets hope atleast in future, people like this professor, doesn't involve in this kind of Shame ful acts. Its a great disrepute to the University and his nation. Though he has resigned now from the university, still he has damaged the reputation of the university.The recent information from the Time magazine states that "South Korean stem cell pioneer insists his groundbreaking research is still credible". Lets hope so.

THIS YEAR, scientists piled up new insights about evolution at the genetic level and the birth of species, including information that could help us lead healthier lives in the future.Ironically, these often-startling discoveries occurred in a year when backers of `intelligent design' and other opponents of evolution sought to renew challenges to this fundamental concept.This milestone, plus nine other research advances, make up Science's list of the top ten scientific developments in 2005, chosen for their profound implications for society and the advancement of science.Many of this year's breakthrough studies followed evolution at the genetic level. In October this year, an international team of researchers unveiled a map of the chimpanzee genome.The biggest map to date of single-letter variations in the human genetic sequence, hoping to get a better glimpse of the human species' evolutionary history is another development.This year's sequencing of the 1918 pandemic flu virus could have a more immediate impact on medicine. Other studies showed how small changes in DNA can trigger dramatic evolutionary events. Researchers found that a single genetic change can be all it takes to turn one species into many.Beyond the genome, researchers watched evolution in action among a number of animals, from caterpillars to crickets, and found that behavioural differences such as what to eat and when to mate may be enough to turn a single population into two species. Science also salutes nine other scientific achievements of 2005.Planetary safaris: With spacecraft at or on the way to the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, a comet, an asteroid, Saturn, and the very edge of the solar system, planetary discovery soared in 2005.The high point in a year of highlights may be the landing of the European spacecraft Huygens on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Huygens' trip to Titan revealed a world where infrequent but drenching rains of liquid methane shape the land and participate in a fascinating hydrologic cycle.A rich year for plants: Several key molecular cues behind flowering and other plant mysteries and surprises came to light in 2005. For example, plant molecular biologists pinned down the identity of a signal that initiates the seasonal development of flowers. Other research focused on a gene involved in stimulating flowering, and another study highlighted a surprising cache of RNA.The nature of neutron stars: In 2005, new instruments yielded vivid insights into the most violent behaviours of neutron stars. A short, intense pulse of radiation from near the centre of the Milky Way, recorded on 27 December 2004, may be the result of a short gamma ray burst — a rapid merger of two ancient neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole.Brain wiring and disease: Several studies in 2005 suggest that diseases like schizophrenia, Tourette syndrome, and dyslexia are rooted in `faulty wiring' of the brain's neural circuitry during development in the womb.Where did Earth come from? This year, researchers took another look at Earth rocks and meteorites that resemble the starting material of the solar system and found that their atoms were significantly different. So where did Earth get its building blocks?Some scientists now say early Earth materials come from a different part of the solar system, while others say parts of early Earth are just sunk deep in the planet, hidden from view.Key protein's close-up: The most detailed molecular portrait to date of a voltage-gated potassium channel was unveiled in 2005. These channels, gatekeeper proteins that usher potassium ions in and out of cells, are as key to nerve and muscle functioning as transistors are to computers.Changing climate of climate change? In 2005, evidence linking humans to global warming continued to accumulate and U.S. politicians began to take notice.From the warming of deep ocean waters and increased frequencies of the most intense tropical cyclones to continued reductions in ice cover in the Arctic Ocean and altered bird migratory patterns, scientific evidence for climate change built up in 2005 and non-scientists seem to have listened.Cell signalling steps up: Dynamic views of how cells respond to the chemical and environmental signals all around them took hold in 2005 thanks to efforts to track multiple inputs and outputs of cell signalling networks simultaneously.For example, researchers created a model of nearly 8,000 chemical signals involved in a network leading to programmed cell death.ITER lands in France: The struggle over the location of the world's first fusion reactor has ended — the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be built at Cadarache in southern France and not in Rokkasho, Japan. One aim of ITER is to generate fusion-powered electricity by recreating the power of the sun on Earth.Areas to watch in 2006: According to Science's predictions for hot fields include drug and vaccine development for avian flu, RNA-interference in humans, high-temperature superconductors, the microbial family tree, detection of the merging of two neutron stars and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Leadership Lesson-2-Kalam on Leadership

This is one of the article that i came across, which i feel is very much essential for all the aspiring leaders. I thought sharing here in this forum would help the aspirants a lot. With due courtesies to business today, which published this information, i am sharing this advise of our honourable president Kalam.Once after going through the article i believe every one would accept to the lesson learnt and taught by him.All the best !!!

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Perceptions-Two Sides of a Coin

Good N Bad have always been associated together, or is there something called good and something called bad? What appears good to me, appears bad for some one else ? then who is right? where is the question of right and wrong, because what appears right to me appears wrong to some one else....I think i am confusing you all too much.....its just to put across a point that its the perceptions that makes a thing right or wrong, good or bad. when you put yourself from some one else point of view, what ever appeared to be wrong to you can change right....Still to continue

Saturday, December 24, 2005

With Christmas round the corner, i just thought let me showcase one of the enjoyable sites. Just to showcase how Internet is developing into. Just visit the site below.http://subservientchicken.comBelow it, find the textbox wherein you can type any instructions of your choice, (eg:Take a blanket,Take a book,Take a pillow,somersault,jump ...)to that chicken and he'll do it right then and there for you to see on the video display. It is amazing I tell you. I just cannot believe my eyes when I see it. First I told the chicken to sit down, and you know the guy actually sat down on the sofa. I still thought they'd programmed a video that must've been pre-recorded but no; when I told the guy, "sit down on the floor", he sat down on the floor. I said, "slap yourself" and he did. I said, "sing a song" and he sang. I said I'll tell my friends, and bid him aduie. He waved his arms to say bye.Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

Friday, December 23, 2005

Attitude-Makes the Difference

Earlier i was talking about Innovation, Now this article i wish to give you a few tips regarding, how innovation can work.

The factor behind innovation is nothing but attitude. The attitude to take up challenges. The attitude to face problems. The attitude of owning responsibility. Attitude is nothing but the mind set. Hope you understand now why its important. If assuming you dont have the mindset to achieve something, if you dont have the mindset to face problems, if you lack the mindset to take risks, even if you have the Innovative Idea, yet it would loose steam.

Also, your attitude towards others defines your success.

1)Don’t see the problems as other’s, look at it as yours and help each other to achieve the goal.

2)Share your learning and experience effectively and grow with the team and not as an individual

3)Be matured to accept the mistakes and do not repeat again

4)Don’t think of whose mistake is this, instead first work on resolving the problem, then share the learning with rest of the Team, so that none in the Team repeat the same

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Think Different

Innovation is the core for success in today's rapidly changing world. The situation is either Innovate or Perish. Organizations and People who have kept up to innovation have always been able to manage change in a better way.Plenty of real time examples are in galore.Innovation is nothing but changing for the good. At the organization level, its about doing products for the customer's need. Gone are the days when people bought products that were manufactured. But today's manufacturing is defined by customer's need. Most organizations which have understood this have been successful players.At the workplace, innovation is doing your job in a better way, which is usually a different way. After all, one cannot reach a different destination by walking the same route everyday.For companies, innovation allows them to stay a step ahead of competition. Anil Chopra, National Marketing head of Anchor Daewoo Industries feels, companies that introduce customer friendly products regularly carry that feel good factor about them. Says he, "Any innovation, even a small way is profitable. The consumer realises that the brand is continuously doing something for the consumer, which shows that the company cares for them." On an individual level too, being innovative in your assignments, portrays your involvement. Now, which employer would have a problem with that?Companies appreciate employees who think out of the box. In technology-driven sectors like Telecom and IT, companies regularly reward winning ideas that help them better their products. Dishing out bonuses on performance, rather than tenure, is again a company's way of motivating employees to improve themselves continuously. Says, T Sriramkrishna Mohan, Manager HR, Tata Teleservices, "Companies are always taking a closer look at employees who have delivered an exceptional performance, well aware that any exceptional performance happens only when an employee thinks differently".Today, companies have begun recognising an individual on the basis of new ideas he comes up with. Innovation need not be limited to any field or level. A shop floor worker in a manufacturing unit has just as much scope to innovate as a software programmer. If a shop floor worker finds a method whereby, he can skip even one step in what would otherwise be a five-step process, it would be an innovation. It is easier to come up with bright ideas without the pressures of having to do so. This way, any innovation would be a value addition to the current job. A few tips:• Develop the idea. Most products and processes that we take for granted today were thought of while their inventors were actually working at something else. They became success stories because their inventors worked on developing these ideas.• Innovative always. Novel ideas generally come about only when individuals are placed in problematic circumstances. For instance Hutch came up with the idea of mobile service stations, as it was not economical to set up full-fledged service stations in far-flung areas. But this need not be so. Try to think towards improvement even without problems.• Train yourself to think differently by constantly looking at alternative methods for doing things. Start with smaller assignments like a departmental presentation.• Learn from others and improvise. Being involved with the team is how the top management usually comes up with the one winning idea. Even if it is not the Vice President's idea, he is involved with the teams that are working at it.• Learn to live the situation. This would give you, a fair idea of what process or product could actually make life easier. Then all you need to do is apply the logic on a larger scale. For instance, It was when Sony Corporation's founder, Akio Morito missed listening to his favourite music while playing golf, that the need for portable music was felt. And Sony introduced the walkman.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Learn from the stars

Here is another star, who has silently achieved a milestone. Its all about playing 100 Test matches. He has been in the cricket arena for more than 15 years and started his career a few months later than the other Super Hero - Sachin. He is None other than Kumble. Infact, Kumble was also in the forefront along with Muralidharan and Shanewarne. Yet the later two have zoom past him in terms of wickets, yet the way kumble bowls is totally different of a spinner. Thats what makes him special and different. More over he has been instrumental in lot of victories.He is again one player who has seen both his High and low, yet, has worked very hard to make a come back. Not only that he has always proved himself in adverse situations. He is a very humble person and has always lended support to service activities.

Resolving Relationship Conflicts

What blocks you from resolving conflicts with your partner? A lasting and rewarding relationship has to be open and honest. And to keep it that way, you have to be able to air grievances with yourpartner. Burying issues, and avoiding conflict and disagreements, do not have a place in a healthy relationship. You might as well accept the fact that you WILL get on each other's nerves. You will disagree from time to time. Learn how to argue in a constructive manner to resolve the issue at hand and not tear each other apart personally. Here are some recommended steps for resolving conflict. First of all, agree to reach a solution. Many of us either choose to attack our partner or run away from the argument, neither of which helps. Always remember that you and your partner are in the same team- both of you want what's best for the relationship. Sometimes, in the heat of argument, we forget that. Also, explore your feelings. Why are you so upset?Examine your reaction to the event and see if you are responding to the presentsituation or reliving a past hurtful event. See if this issue is really about you and your partner or you and someone from your past. Next, identify what you want. Speak up. See what you and your partnercan work out for a mutually satisfying resolution. Your partner cannotgive you want you want if you don't have the courage to ask for it.Remember, you are in love with each other. You want to feel good, yourpartner wants to feel good, and you both have the same wish for eachother. Keep that in mind as you express your desires. And choose mutual action. A relationship is a partnership, a jointeffort. If one person ends up being responsible for making the unionwork on every level, resentment will build up. Work out fairresolutions.

Monday, December 19, 2005

13 Tip's for Happier Life

I strongly believe in the following and i practise the 11 tips instead of 12. Being a counsellor i cant follow "Dont take on the problems of other people". Except that i follow almost every other point and hence the reason why i am sharing this with you all fellow bloggers.STOP worrying - Worry is the least productive of all human activities and thoughts…. Just because you worry things are not going to change, don't you agree?Don't allow needless fears preoccupy your life - A survey says 80% of the time the things we fear never happen!!!Don't hold grudges - We are in this world for a very short period of time and i personally feel this is one of the biggest and most unnecessary weights we carry through our lives..Take on one problem at a time - It's the only way to handle things anyway..one by one..Don't take your problems to bed with you - Do you know Good Sleep is what makes a person healthy. Your next day would be energetic and fresh if you have a good sleep. Don't take on the problems of other people - They are better equipped to handle their own problems than you are..unless and until you are sure that you can give them a solution.Don't live in the past - It will always be there in your memories to enjoy..but don't cling to it.Concentrate on what is happening right now in your life..and you will be happy in the present also..not just the past.Be a good listener - It is only when one listens..that one gets and learns ideas different from ones own...Do not let frustration ruin and rule your life - Self pity more than anything..interferes with positive actions..with moving forwards in our lives.Count your blessings - Don't even forget the smallest blessings.. As many small blessings add up to large ones...Find time to spend with your family - Make it a point to spend atleast a few hours in a week with your familyFeel free to Communicate - Always communicate your needs. It's only then you can let others know what is in your mind and vice-versaIndulge in Service - Just do this and you would know how good it makes you feel. Do it with all your heart.

Isn't this True?

This is something that i always feel about, how the world keeps changing. Here it just reminds me of the saying "Nothing is permanent, except change". I may be wrong or right, but my intention is not to hurt anyone, rather just providing my observations...its strange but true.....30 years back: When i was so young, i always wanted to grow faster, but now having grown faster, the question that arises in mind is can't i go back to good old days......25 years ago:i wanted my locality to be a famous locality....i felt the number of cars i was seeing on the road was very less....but today i feel, can i see less numbers of cars.....can the place be more calmer......used to hate the cycles, but now long to see more cycles on road...20 years back:When i was in my school, i always wanted to graduate and work, but now i feel, those were the wonderful days in school, can i go back to it.......15 years back:i was longing for 24 hour cartoons and more number of TV channels, but today i feel, Doordarshan would be quite sufficient....10 years back:i also wanted to own a Mobile Phone......today at times i feel why do i have a mobile.....I am not complaining, i am enjoying the present too....but i am just wondering how our points of view and needs change drastically with age....is it our perceptional change?

Team work key to achieving the goal

A team should be built on mutual trust and there should be an atmosphere

of honesty Henry Ford once said, "Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." As such, the

importance of being a team player and gelling together in a team cannot be

undermined. Again, being a team player is something that cannot be isolated

to a single situation. You will always be working in a team — whether you are

studying or working, whether in an organisation or in your own business.

A common example in everyday life is sports such as cricket and hockey.What works well here stems from the fact that it is a team. In this feature,let us review some simple tenets that you can keep in mind to be a greatteam player.

Group dynamicsBeing in a team means that there is a common purpose that drives the team.This is the goal or what needs to be achieved. Also, the team goals should beclear and understood and accepted by each member. This will ensure that allteam members understand the goal clearly and in the same way. Anothervital aspect is that there should be complete clarity about who would beresponsible for what, so as to avoid overlapping responsibility and authority.A team should be built on mutual trust and there should be an atmosphereof honesty and openness among team members.Also, it is critical to be loyal to employees as the same is expected from them.

A good way to foster a sense of belonging and ownership is to involve themembers in team-building activities and events. Having opportunities tointeract outside work will not only encourage open communication but alsodevelop some long-lasting relationships.

For any issue that needs an overall team consensus and commitment, involvethe whole team in the decision-making process. This will get a buy-in fromeach team member and also a satisfaction that everyone's opinion matters.In a team, ensure that there are no blocked lines of communication andeveryone is always fully informed. This should leave no scope for grapevineor rumours.

As part of a team, each member needs to be committed to the goal andshould be able to see value from individual contribution to the team. Whenyou are committed, this is more or less easy to achieve. This also means thatit is not just you, but also the other members who would need guidance andassistance. This is something that would be mutual.

You must not just be knowledgeable but also exhibit the right degree ofenthusiasm. As a member of a team, seek responsibility to make the bestuse of your talent. Be energetic and have the drive to work and inspire thesame in your fellow members. Every member is accountable not only tohimself/herself but to all members of the team. Setting correct expectations can increase commitment.

LeadershipA team has to be steered and managed well to be able to reach its goal.As such, the coordinator should typically lead by example. This means doinga good share of the work and being accountable for the same. A goodorganisation is really needed in proper distribution of work. Having the abilityto delegate and assign tasks and ensuring successful completion of the same is required. Ultimately, it is every member's responsibility to ensure that everyone has a task to complete and that the person doing it is the best resource for the same.

Virtual teamsThe challenge in today's business model is to also manage and be part ofvirtual teams that are not bound by location or geography. You could bein one location and your team member in another and at times in differentcontinents.

In this case, each team member is part of a project group or task force.What is needed here is the ability to connect across different cultures andtime zones. The scheduling, timing and execution of tasks are important as they impact the overall performance.In fact, diversity is the key to a successful team.

A team should be made up of people who have different opinions & handlework in different ways. Remember there is no `I' in the word "team." Simply stated, it is less "me," and more "we." And as we know, the whole isalways greater than the sum of the parts.So, here's wishing you happy synergy times.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Art of Communication

Communication is what makes a great difference in every one's life. Why?I would jus explain it in detail.If you look at most of the problem that is encountered today, it is jus because of lack of proper communication....to be continued...

Friday, December 16, 2005

Today's newspapers carried two important articles that all Indians can cherish for a long long time.First :NR Narayana Murthy, the founder of India's Infosys Technologies, has been ranked as the eighth best CEO in the world in a business survey. for further story Please visit :http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4531814.stmSecond:WIPRO Chairman Mr.Aziz Premji and Ms. Rohini Nilekani wife of Infosys CEO Nandan Nilekani have signed perhaps two of the biggest individual cheques ever in the history of Indian Philanthropy.Azizji has transferred 370 Crore to AzimPremji Foundation, while MsRohini has transferred 1oo Crores to Argyam trust.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Job Hopping - by Dr.Gopalkrisnan,Chairman, TATA Sons

Mr.Gopalakrishnan succeeds Mr.Ratan Tata as Chairman of Tata Sons Ltd.,the holding company for many of the Tata Bluechips like Tata Steel, Tata Motors,Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Voltas, etc.,Possibly he is the first non-Tata person to head the Tata Empire. The below article is really interesting !

The grass isn't always greener on the other side !!Move from one job to another, but only for the right reasons. It's yet another day at office. As I logged on to the marketing and advertising sites for the latest updates, as usual, I found the headlines dominated by 'who's moving from one company to another after a short stint', and I wondered, why are so many peopleleaving one job for another?

Is it passe now to work with just one company for a sufficiently long period?

Whenever I ask this question to people who leave a company, the answers I get are: "Oh, I am getting a 200% hike in salary" "Well, I am jumping three levels in my designation" "Well, they are going to send me abroad in six months".

Then, I look around at all the people who are considered successful today and who have reached the top - be it a media agency, an advertising agency or a company. I find that most of these people are the ones who have stuck to the company, ground their heels and worked their way to the top. And, as I look around for people who changed their jobs constantly, I find they have stagnated at some level , in obscurity!

In this absolutely ruthless, dynamic and competitive environment, there are still no short-cuts to success or to making money. The only thing that continues to pay, as earlier, is loyalty and hard work. Yes, it pays!

Sometimes, immediately, sometimes after a lot of time. But, it does pay.

Does this mean that one should stick to an organisation and wait for that golden moment? Of course not.

After a long stint, there always comes a time for moving in most organisations,but it is important to move for the right reasons, rather than superficial ones, like money, designation or an overseas trip.Remember, no company recruits for charity.More often than not, when you are offered an unseemly hike in salary or designation that is disproportionate to what that company offers it current employees, there is always an unseen bait attached.The result? You will, in the long-term, have reached exactly the same levels or maybe lower levels than what you would have in your current company.A lot of people leave an organisation because they are "unhappy". What is this so-called-unhappiness? I have been working for donkey's years and there has never been a day when I am not unhappy about something in my work environment-boss, rude colleague, fussy clients etc.Unhappiness in a workplace, to a large extent, is transient.If you look hard enough, there is always something to be unhappy about.But, more importantly, do I come to work to be "happy" in the truest sense?If I think hard, the answer is "No". Happiness is something you find with family, friends, may be a close circle of colleagues who have become friends.What you come to work for is to earn, build a reputation, satisfy your ambitions, be appreciated for your work ethics, face challenges and get the job done.So, the next time you are tempted to move, ask yourself why are you moving and what are you moving into?Some questions are:* Am I ready and capable of handling the new responsibility? If yes,what couldbe the possible reasons my current company has not offered me the same responsibility?* Who are the people who currently handle this responsibility in the current andnew company? Am I as good as the best among them?* As the new job offer has a different profile, why have I not given the currentcompany the option to offer me this profile?* Why is the new company offering me the job? Do they want me for my skills, or is there an ulterior motive? An honest answer to these will eventually decide where you go in your career- to the top of the pile in the long term (at the cost of short-term blips) or to become another average employee who gets lost with time in the wilderness? "DESERVE BEFORE YOU DESIRE" - Dr. Gopalkrishnan, Chairman TATA Sons.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Angry or Calm?

Hello all,I came across this wonderful images, as a forwarded mail. I know most you might also have got this. yet for some of the people who haven't had the chance to see this, here it is.

If you watch the below images from your seat in front of the computer, Mr.Angry is on the left, and Mr.Calm is on the right. Get up from your seat, and move back 12 feet,and PRESTO!! they switch places!!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Happiness At Your Job Through A Higher Purpose

I came across this piece of article By Julian Kalmar. I really thought this article was worth sharing with all our fellow bloggers and webizens. It's really interesting. With this note i bid a bye....Read it and please share your comments.Don't like your job? Transform it using the magic of purpose.The results of a remarkable experiment demonstrate the power you hold to completely transform your job. The experiment is believed to have taken place during the Great Depression when many were unemployed, destitute, and purposeless. [Please forgive me if some of the details are wrong. I couldn't find the source of this story.]As I understand the experiment, the U.S. Army employed two groups of previously unemployed men. The first group was taken out into the desert to dig holes. They worked very hard all day in the scorching sun, and every day was the same: Go to a new location in the desert, dig holes, and return exhausted.Amazingly, and in spite of the back-breaking work in the desert heat, the more they dug, the happier they got. They had a purpose even though they didn't know why they were digging the holes.The second group of men had a different job. Every day they would go to a different location in the desert to fill holes. They didn't know about the first group of men. All they knew about their job was that they were being paid to fill holes. Like the first group, they labored all day in the hot desert. This went on day after day. At the end of each day they were exhausted but satisfied. Lo and behold, they became happier too.This hole digging and hole filling went on for some time and both groups of men had become significantly happier than before they started their work: They were productive and had found a purpose. Now watch carefully what happened next, because the experiment wasn't over...One day the foreman of each group went to the men to tell them about the other group of men and what they did. When the men realized there was no real purpose to the jobs they were doing, they were devastated. Their purpose was destroyed. None-the-less, the experiment continued. For every single man without exception, the hole digging and hole filling was sheer misery. Both groups of men were extremely unhappy. Even though the pay and the work was exactly the same as it was before, they were miserable. Nothing had changed, except their sense of purpose was absent.This experiment reveals a great insight. If we can find genuine purpose we can gain tremendous job satisfaction. But any type of purpose won't do. You have to know how to create the right kind of purpose. Let's see how...Purpose is determined in two ways. Sometimes a purpose is seemingly delivered to us by others, like our bosses. As employees we typically adopt the purpose our company needs. Those who are self-employed adopt the purpose of their clients. The second way purpose is determined is that you look beyond the immediate task to see its higher, more noble meaning. So rather than simply accepting your assigned tasks and adopting the task as your purpose, introduce an extra step of finding the higher purpose in your task. You'll still do the same task in the same way physically, but now you'll add the magic of a higher purpose.Here are some examples. Say you're a locksmith and your task is to install a lock on someone's front door. If you only adopt the purpose of installing a lock successfully, you might be happy or miserable; gratified, or not, by your work. Instead, of accepting the lock installation as your purpose, look for the real significance of your task. Your purpose isn't really to install a lock, is it? That's just the task. Your purpose is to protect a family from criminals. You are a protector. Someone who saves people from violence, burglary, and even murder. As you install the lock, treat each step as if you will be stopping a murderer next week. Make it even more personal by imagining that you are stopping a murderer whose next victim would have been someone you love. Every step of the installation becomes like a karate block to thwart a thug. You are a hero, a savior.Or perhaps you work in an office and must prepare a report for your boss. If all you see in the task is that you must create a report, you won't have much fun. Ask yourself, "What's the higher purpose of this report?" Maybe your company is a pharmaceutical company and the report will permit your boss to ensure that new drug research is funded. That humble reporting task is about to save a lives. What if it were your child's life, or your spouse's life, or your parent's life. As you begin pulling the data together for your report, keep your higher purpose in mind. Treat every detail as if one person would die if you got it wrong. Make it your highest work. Five years from now, compare the difference between these two outcomes. The research funding was approved and your parent's life was saved. Or, your non-recognition of the higher purpose led to sloppiness that lost the funding and you caused your own child's death.Or, maybe you work in a factory packaging food. You feel your job is monotonous. Would it be so monotonous if you mentally followed the food you're packaging? Imagine it leaving the plant in a truck, arriving at a market, getting purchased, and then getting cooked and eaten by a family. Maybe that food is part of the only meal they'll get that day. Or maybe it's for your family a week from now. Your purpose isn't really to put food in a package...is it? Isn't the higher purpose to take away the pain of hunger? You are giving the kindness of pain relief to another. Never mind what your co-workers or society thinks of your job. Every morsel of food you treat with care and protect from spoiling is a noble, if not sacred act of kindness. It is a gift.Purpose is something you choose to apply to the tasks you do. You can be hero, a person of nobility, or a savior, even in tasks that others consider humble. One way of finding a higher purpose in your tasks is to think altruistically. For example, picking fruit may seem like hard physical labor. Yet if you treat each piece of fruit as a gift from nature (or God) that is going to remove someone's hunger, the act of picking fruit becomes an almost holy task, an act of removing hunger. Likewise, mopping the floor or washing clothes can be transformed from a chore to a gift of cleanliness for your family, the same family you care for dearly. The true value of each task gives us purpose, a reason for caring about the quality of the outcome.If you are a spiritual person, higher purpose may be readily discovered according to your beliefs. Take purposeful action according to your faith. Your actions become a form of worship or communion in perfect alignment with your ideals and the Universe. Ask yourself how you can best help others. By thinking in terms of the good you can do, and reinforcing that to yourself as you work, your purpose brings peacefulness, good will, and satisfaction.Without such purpose, all you have are miserable, lowly, repetitive, unrewarding tasks. With purpose, you lead a high and noble life that is filled with meaning and purpose and value. Remember how miserable the men in the desert became without purpose? Had each one adopted the personal purpose of communing with the land, the soil, and nature, and had they taken interest in the rocks and things within the soil, they would have enjoyed every strike of the shovel. You can do the same with your job.Copyright 2005 by Julian Kalmar. All rights reserved.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Little Master - A Giant in his Own Way

The very first match i saw him facing the paki speedsters, i started admiring this person. That was for his courage.Then he took on the famous Abdul Qadir, who was a great spinner of that era. He just hit him to consective sixes. It was his way of letting know the world that he has come to conquer the cricketing world.True, he is not only admired in India, but also through out the cricket playing nations. Yeah he is not only an asset of India, he is an Asset of Cricket.There are lot of qualities to be learnt from this great person.He has always been humble, modest, well mannered, soft spoken, hard working and most importantly DEDICATED. congrats to this little master who has created the world record and who is bound to create many more in the coming days. It was a very rare sight to see him emotional and that shows how much pressure he was going through. Man, he is Human too, though a GOD to all others.It would be too mean of us to expect this Master Blaster to play the way he played in his early part of the career. Dont all of us change with age? are we the same as we had been in the school days or college days? Are we the same as we had been, when he had taken our first job? experience has taught us to handle situations in a different way. Same is the case with this genius too.To have him in our Team is a great Honor. So lets have that honor. It automatically creates extra work for opponents, because they have to work out on how to get this man's wicket. With an experienced person like him, today youngsters like Yuvraj, Kaif, Dhoni, Irfan and others would get to learn a lot from him.We are with YOU.....Go Ahead.....

Friday, December 09, 2005

Lesson from a CUP

I came across this piece of message. I found it really interesting and wanted to share it with you all. Its some thing to realise and learn about life.

"A group of working adults got together to visit their University lecturer. The lecturer was happy to see them. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. The Lecturer just smiled and went to the kitchen to get an assortment of cups - some porcelain, some in plastic, some in glass, some plain looking and some looked rather expensive and exquisite.He offered his former students the cups to get drinks for themselves. When all the students had a cup in hand with water, he spoke: "If you noticed, all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal that you only want the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all you wanted was water, not the cup, but we unconsciously went for the better cups." "Just like in life, if Life is Water, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold/maintain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change." "If we only concentrate on the cup, we won't have time to enjoy/taste the water in it."-Mother TeresaIsnt it true? its time we start realizing whats important in LIFE.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Learn from the Leaders

Yesterday (07/12/2005) i had the opportunity of watching a TV show on NDTV. Aptly titled Changing India, it had the two dominating figures of IT industry. One has taken the PC world by storm, while the other has helped immensely, change the Face of India and Indian Industry. Both are visionaries in true sense. Both have helped change the life of millions of people, either directly or indirectly.

Both are inspiring leaders. They are none other than Bill Gates & Narayanamurthy, co-founders of MICROSOFT & INFOSYS. This is the first time when both the giants have come together on a TV show. That made this show more interesting.

One primary observation from Bill Gates was about his love towards Work, which keeps him brimming with energy. He has also personally contributed around 30Billion US dollars for the benefit of the society. His goal is towards creating computer systems that can talk to human and become more people friendly.

One primary observation about Narayananurthy is about his Vision, inspite of being offered US$1 million, in 1990 for being taken over, he had simply rejected the offer. Definitely it was one of the definining moments not only for Narayanamurthy, but also for India. If assuming he had accepted the tempting offer, who knows whether India would have built the same image so fast.Earlier India was land of snake charmers and monks, today its information technology every where. If it was Gandhi for Peace, its definitely Narayana Murthy, Premji, shivnadar & ramalinga raju for IT. I have great respects for that reason.There was a remark from the show about understanding the essence of time, one of the professor in US remarked it seems that, I dont know how to make the Japanese students talk and i dont know how to make the Indian Students stop talking.....with this i would like to end this article...still to watch tonight....9:30 p.m

Who would Win?

I came across this piece of information. It was really very interesting... a lengthy one indeed but worth reading. Thats what i feel. You can putforward your comments too.An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty. He asks one of his new students to stand and...Prof: So you believe in God?Student: Absolutely, sir.Prof: Is God good?Student: Sure.Prof: Is God all-powerful?Student : Yes.Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?(Student is silent.)Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?Student :Yes.Prof: Is Satan good?Student : No.Prof: Where does Satan come from?Student : From...God...Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?Student : Yes.Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything.Correct?Student : Yes.Prof: So who created evil?(Student does not answer.)Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these >terrible things exist in the world, don't they?Student :Yes, sir.Prof: So, who created them?(Student has no answer.)Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen GodStudent : No, sir.Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?Student : No , sir.Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelled your god? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.Prof: Yet you st ill believe in Him?Student : Yes.Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?Prof: Yes.>Student : And is there such a thing as cold?Prof: Yes.Student : No sir. There isn't.(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega >heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to d escribe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light,bright light, flashing light.... But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?(The Professor shakes his head with a smi le, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?(The class is in uproar.)Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?(The class breaks out into laughter.)Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelled it?.....No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?(The room is silent. The professor stares at the studen t, his face>unfathomable.)Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.Student : That is it, sir. The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

Do you know who the student is. ??...>That young man was ALBERT EINSTEIN......

Monday, December 05, 2005

Positive Thought for the Day

Thoughts, have you ever wondered the kind of magic that the thought process can do for a person? Just to illustrate its power, i am depicting the following example.Have you ever noticed this? To me it was very much surprising initially,to see that elephants were tied by using a rope.

As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the

fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope

tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the

elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some

reason, they did not.I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent

animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. "Well,"

he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the

same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold

them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they can't

break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they

never try to break free." I was amazed. These animals could at anytime break free from their bonds but because they believed they

couldn't, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a beliefthat we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

Its just all about the Mindset. If you think you can,DEFINITELY YOU CAN.Start now and achieve your goals...All the best!!!

Friday, December 02, 2005

Trip to "City of Joy"

Hi all, I was just away from the Blogging scenario for almost three weeks... November probably has been the month with maximum number of marriages....all my close friends have chosen their life partner...it was a great joy to be a part of the memorable occasion....One of my friend's marriage was in kolkata and hence I had to travel down to Kolkota, popularly known as "City of Joy"....This is my second visit and i did have a wonderful time. Initially i had planned my trip for just two days but later due to a technical snag in SpiceJet, i then chose to extend my trip by another day...Spicejet is a low cost airline we will talk about it later...coming to "City of Joy", it stands to it name...i observed lot of positive things about the city.....dont ask me whether there arent negatives.....Yes there are....But tell me which one city doesn't have negatives????The transport network is good, its one of the cities in the world where Trams are still in use. People there are very friendly, ask them a address and they try to help you out in all means. It wasnt tough for me to find a good accomodation at a reasonable price....atleast for a bachelor.....its one place where i was able to buy Tea for Just ONE Rupee....i was really surprised when the shop keeper returned me the change for two rupees that i gave....the marriage celebration in itself was totally different from my culture....so it was again a chance to learn and observe a lot.........Eden Garden has always been their pride...Though this time by showing black flag to the Indian team they have earned some disrespect....DADA has great support....very much visible......From a chennai guy's point of view...the first and foremost negative...Man they are wasting water like anything....there are water pipes gushing out with water for every 10-50 metres and that too through out the day.....today they dont understand the need to conserve water...the administrators must take a look into this....it just takes you to install taps into those pipes or handpumps have to erected.....lots of water can be saved.....Secondly the pollution, its definitely to very much alarming levels, some action has to be taken regarding this....else its going to affect the health of the citizens....check out....Third connectivity to Airport and accomodation near Airport......an issue to look out....if i just recall only sweet smiling and helping faces of kolkota is what i am able to recollect....CITY of JOY .....Stands to its name......